Sunday, September 18, 2016

Chad taught me the importance of honest expression and believing in a standard. Be critical because you love something and want to see it improve!

I'd like to dedicate "I'm Giving Up on Rock and Roll" by Christopher the Conquered.
- from Madison Ray for this podcast
- Madison Ray is a local Des Moines, Iowa, musician
- https://www.facebook.com/emperorMadisonRay

"His winning charm is subtle and earnestness; if he has to sing a downbeat ballad rife with wary words straight from the heart, he’s going to do it. But if his piano solos are unconventional and his ponderous lyrics seem coy, it’s often downplayed into the decorous blend of instrumentation."
- from a Jeff Milo article on the Paste Magazine website

"Christopher has known what he wanted to do since growing up in an Iowa town of just 1,300. Without even an antenna for the family TV let alone cable, he became obsessed with music through listening to Motown and classic rock & roll with his parents and repeatedly watching Disney classics like The Lion King and The Jungle Book on repeat. He taught himself drums, trumpet, piano, and guitar, even auditing a college Jazz History class at just 12-years-old alongside his dad. He also found music via faith. Living in a devoutly religious home, he spent a lot of time in church.

“'Our church was full of music, and I even played for a while as part of a worship group there. The experience taught me the power of music to connect with people on an emotional level. That spiritual feeling is something that has stuck with me, and that I try to inject into my performances.'